{{Short description|British friendly society}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox company
| logo = [[File:National Friendly Logo.png]]
| name = National Friendly
| type = [[Friendly Society]]
| foundation = 1868 ([[Albury, Surrey]])
| location = 11-12 Queen Square <br>Bristol<br>BS1 4NT<br>
|area_served     =  [[United Kingdom]]
| num_employees   =  60
|products        = [[Health insurance]], later life care, life assurance and [[investment]] products
| industry = Insurance
|subsid          = National Friendly Financial Solutions Limited
| homepage = {{URL|www.nationalfriendly.co.uk}}
}}

[[File:National Friendly's Head Office.jpg|thumb|11-12 Queen Square, Bristol]]

'''National Friendly''' is the trading name of National Deposit Friendly Society, a British [[friendly society]] providing financial products and services. It was formed in 1868 as the Surrey Deposit Friendly Society and is currently based in [[Queen Square, Bristol]] .<ref>[https://nationalfriendly.co.uk/about-us/ National Friendly - About us]</ref>

== History ==

===The first 50 years===

The Surrey Deposit Friendly Society was founded in 1868 by The Reverend Canon George Raymond Portal, who set up a scheme to support the health and welfare of families. The name was changed to National Deposit Friendly Society in 1871.

The National Insurance Act was introduced in 1911 and this was the first time the State took contributions from the public towards medical care.<ref>[https://schoolshistory.org.uk/topics/british-history/modern-britain/liberal-reforms/national-insurance-act-1911/ National Insurance Act 1911]</ref> Friendly societies and trade unions were given a major role in administering health insurance, which increased National Friendly’s membership.<ref>Cordery, Simon. British friendly societies, 1750-1914 (Springer, 2003)</ref> <ref>Beveridge, William H., Voluntary Action: A Report on Methods of Social Advance (Routledge, 2015)</ref> 

During [[World War I]], National Friendly established its own convalescent home, which offered support to the injured soldiers.<ref>http://catalogue.stmargaretshistory.org.uk/collections/show/78 St. Margaret's Village Archive: Portal House</ref>

===The Second 50 years===

During [[World War II]], National Friendly moved to [[Somerset]].<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nc89BaPe3o&feature= National Friendly - 150 Years Together</ref> The NHS was formed in 1948, bringing a huge change in the provision of medical services.

It continued to sell a stream of endowments while looking for new forms of income, including taking over the Railway Deposit Friendly Society.<ref>http://www.creditfinancecentre.co.uk/national_deposit_friendly_article.html National Deposit Friendly Article</ref>

===The Third 50 years===

In 1982 National Friendly moved to [[Clifton, Bristol]] and put a new General Secretary in place. Its assets increased and tipped over £100 million as it celebrated its 125th birthday. 

The migration from cheques and cash to direct debt meant that it could streamline its offices to just one building and in 2014 it moved to [[Queen Square, Bristol]].<ref>http://www.capitolsignsbristol.co.uk/europes-largest-georgian-square-becomes-new-home-for-national-friendly/ Europe’s largest Georgian Square becomes new home for National Friendly</ref>

In 2016, after a period of focusing on existing members, National Friendly returned to the health care market and over the following years released a range of new products.<ref>https://www.ftadviser.com/2016/06/20/insurance/national-friendly-returns-to-intermediary-market-j6CWuWBg7TVGQr1BXB9oKP/article.html National Friendly returns to intermediary market</ref><ref>https://www.healthinsurancedaily.com/health-insurance/product-area/long-term-care/article482833.ece National Friendly launches Assisted Living Assurance</ref><ref>https://www.covermagazine.co.uk/cover/news/3030510/national-friendly-launches-over-50s-guaranteed-life-assurance-plan National Friendly launches over 50s guaranteed life assurance plan</ref>

In 2018, National Friendly celebrated its 150th anniversary and released a commemorative logo.


[[File:National Friendly 150 Logo.png|National Friendly's gold logo to commemorate their 150th anniversary.]]


==Fundraising and supporting the community==

National Friendly's employees choose a ‘Charity of the Year’ to raise funds for on an annual basis. Firstly, all its staff are invited to nominate charities about which they are passionate. The CSR committee, against pre-agreed selection criteria, then reviews nominations to create a shortlist. All staff then vote from the shortlist for their preferred charity of the year and the charity with the most votes is selected.<ref>https://nationalfriendly.co.uk/media/1646/annual-report-2017.pdf National Friendly Annual Report and Financial Statements 2017</ref>

Over the past five years it has selected charities such as [[Alzheimer's Society]], Wallace and Gromit's Grand Appeal, Penny Brohn UK, [[St Mungo's (charity)|St Mungo's]] and [[Cystic Fibrosis Trust]], raising over £50,000 in funds.<ref>https://nationalfriendly.co.uk/about-us/corporate-governance/ National Friendly - Corporate Governance</ref>

National Friendly has also supported the local community in the Bristol area by sponsoring local sports teams and working with Ablaze's 'Reading Buddy' programme to help improve the reading and communications skills of local primary school children.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Financial services companies established in 1868]]
[[Category:Friendly societies of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Bristol]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1868]]